Antibiotic prescribing in primary healthcare: Dominant factors and trade-offs in decision-making

Abstract

Patient expectation for antibiotics is the dominant modifiable factor influencing GP antibiotic prescribing behaviours. Key challenges to prudent antibiotic prescribing can be overcome through upskilling GPs to manage patient expectations efficaciously, and through two new emphases for public health campaigns-consumers have the power to reduce the use of antibiotics and the GP as a wise advocate for the patient.